Laos: thats what I call scenary

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The stretch of the Mea Kong river from the Thai/Laos border to the town of Luang Prabang is in actual fact the longest river in the world. Don't believe me? Travel in 8hr shifts over two days sitting on a wooden bench with only the sound of american tourists to keep you 'entertained' and you soon will...

The trips' saving grace was that after 2weeks of speaking to no-one really we finally made some mates. Obviously going around the world you are likely to meet a wide variety of interesting and different people. True to form we shunned these travellers and started chatting with two lads from England who were pretty much the same as us. Horizons expanding rapidly...

After the trip we arrive weary and a little annoyed to the town of Luang Prabang. Stepping off the boat to a throng of Laos people desperate to sell you everything and anything makes you feel a little bit like a celebrity facing a gaggle of papparazzi; fun intially but then you do resort to telling people to do one.

Our first day in Luang Prabang was spent tooling around the town. It is so small (incidentially the second biggest city in Laos) that is takes all of about an hour to see it all. In short; Temples, nice french colonial architecture and (as is standard) a lot of monks.
Feeling lathargic and lifeless after our boat odyssey we decide to get some adventure down us so go to a travel shop and book up a 2day trek, mountain bike and Kayak adventure for 30quid. The guy in the shop (Cher) tells us what we should do whilst in Luang Prabang with well rehearsed patter. This mainly involves buying things from him, but he also suggests going to the top of the mountain in the town where you should 'bring beers and girlfriends' and watch the sunset.
Beers in hand (clearly no gfs) we begin the ascent and arrive sweaty and looking like the oi oi brits abroad we truely are to the top of the temple where absoultely no-one else is drinking beers. We sheepishly chin them and take in some amazing scenary which is made to look more majestic by the storms coming in from all sides. After a few photos we leave before the heavens open.

The next day we rent out some truely awful city bikes and go off road mountain biking accross the river (another one of chers suggestions 'Yeah you'll be fine with town bikes'). This is painstaking work but we are eventualkly rewarded with a trip to a cave. Our 'guides' for this trip are two ferrel children who belong in the film Deliverence. Good cave, but pretty scary.

That night (yes on another one of Cher's suggestions) we go to Laos premier night disco. This is easily the weirdest place i've ever been to and where the fact that Laos is a communist country really hits home. The locals (the biggest age range of people i've ever seen in a nightclub incidentially) love line dancing, all in perfect sequence with one another, towing the party line so to speak. Marsh and I upset this with a bit of freestyling until some bloke either offers to sell me a gun or offers to shoot me. Either way the gun gesture and word gun put me on edge a little!

The next day we get up and go on the two day trek. This starts with and all too brief a bike ride where is pissed down. The sky then clears for us to swim in another waterfall, this is a multi-tierd job which if anything was better than the last one. We swim, jump around and strangely take a wash in it before leaving for a 2hr trek to a Hill tribe villlage.
We sleep and eat in the Camo tribe, not with them tho unfortunately, we are more like a caged freak show to the local tribespeople. After a night of beers and looking at the stars we rise early and set off for a knackering day of walking through dense jungle and then Kayaking down the river. This is tiring work but really good fun. I feel like a proper explorer for the first time this tri

We are now in Vang Vieng which is pretty much the Kavos* (substitute with any package holiday destination) of Laos...

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Comments

[Dad]

Brilliant
Brilliant - these blogs just get better and better, keep 'em coming. Good move to avoid the guy with the gun - one other option he may have had in mind was a replay of the Russian roulette scene in The Deer Hunter ! Stay safe, take care. Dad

[Andrea]

Great to hear about all your adventures - it all sounds good fun - I'm glad you are enjoying it. Keep the updates coming, they are really amusing and funny. Y'know you are not supposed to visit a country before me - Laos - very envious! Andrea x

[Jo W]

Wow
Well boys it sounds like you are having an absolutely crap time...never mind hey, you'll soon be back in Swindon enjoying what it has to offer...haha Seriously though James, you have written some amazing blogs, all of which have had me laughing out loud...I'm really happy that you're all having a quality time. Keep the blog entries coming...pure entertainment. Give my love to the boys...Take Care. Jo xx (PS. Stay away from those Thai Lady Boys...You don't want to be caught in an awkward situation with your beer goggles on!)

[Jimmy]

Where is he?
Still no Adam?!